At least 17 persons have been killed following a deadly attack by armed bandits on Dangulbi community in Tureta Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
Residents said the assailants, who arrived in large numbers on motorcycles, stormed the village on Sunday morning, shooting sporadically and forcing residents to flee for safety. The attackers also reportedly looted several shops during the raid.
Sources within the community revealed that the gunmen were believed to have travelled from Bagega in Zamfara State, passing through Barayar Zaki in Bukkuyum Local Government Area before spending the night in Gizazza village ahead of the assault.
A local resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the attackers invaded Dangulbi between 10am and 11am and immediately began firing at residents.
According to him, 17 people lost their lives in the attack, including seven visitors who had travelled to the area for the upcoming Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.
Some of the victims were identified as Munde, Nagoma, Abdullahi, Danbala, Munden Chana, Muhammadu Dan Amo, Hassan, Abubakar Danbaba and Yidi Bafillace.
The source further disclosed that five of those killed came from Adarawa in Gummi Local Government Area of Zamfara State, while two others were visitors from Gidan Gambo in Shagari Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
Residents said the bandits remained in the community until evening, preventing people from retrieving the bodies of the victims for burial.
“They stayed in the area until around 7pm, making it unsafe for anyone to come out. Funeral prayers were eventually held later in the night after the attackers had left,” the resident explained.
The attackers were also accused of looting about 20 shops before moving towards neighbouring communities, including Kukoki and Birnin Magaji, where they reportedly abducted several residents.
However, the kidnapped victims were said to have regained their freedom later that night after a heavy downpour caused confusion among the gunmen.
The attack has forced many residents to abandon their homes and seek refuge in safer communities across Tureta, Shagari, Gummi and Bukkuyum local government areas.
Community members called on the federal and state governments to strengthen security presence in the area and improve road infrastructure, arguing that poor road networks often hinder swift security intervention during attacks.
The latest assault is one of several violent incidents recorded in the area in recent months, heightening concerns about insecurity and its possible impact on farming activities as the rainy season approaches.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmed Rufai, said security agencies were aware of the attack and were taking steps to restore calm and prevent further violence.